Somewhere in Ohio, a single building holds more than 4,500 different candy items under 22-foot ceilings. The shelves climb so high they look like a warehouse built by a kid with big dreams.
That sweet stockpile has deep roots. The business started in 1950 in a basement, bagging bulk candy for wholesale customers.
Today it still ships to hundreds of partners while welcoming shoppers with carts.
I like the thought of both sides living under one roof. A serious wholesale operation and a playful candy wonderland sound like an unlikely match.
Yet somehow, the pairing makes perfect sense here.
The holidays turn this place into a seasonal treasure hunt. Stocking stuffers, retro favorites, and imported chocolates all wait in the same aisles.
Every holiday wish list could probably get checked off in one stop, so where would you even begin?
You Will Need A Shopping Cart Just To Keep Up With These Aisles
Forty thousand square feet is a lot of floor for one sweet tooth to cover. b.a. Sweetie Candy Company fills that space with more than 4,500 classic and modern candy items.
The building feels like a warehouse because, well, it is one. Ceilings reach about 22 feet, and tall metal shelves stack candy boxes almost to the top.
All those bright wrappers create a wall of color in every direction. It’s the kind of view that makes grown adults point and say, look at that.
Wide aisles help keep things manageable. Families can roll carts side by side without playing bumper cars around the gummy bears.
The store holds hundreds of thousands of pounds of candy at any given time. That number sounds made up, but it explains why the shelves never look sparse.
A smart plan helps here. Make a short list before you go, then leave room for surprises you didn’t know existed.
Shoppers can grab a single bar or buy in bulk. That flexibility matters before the holidays, when one family might need a few treats and another needs enough for a whole classroom party.
Old-School Favorites Are Hiding On These Shelves
SloPokes, Turkish Taffy, and Broadway Licorice Rolls all have something in common here. The store worked with manufacturers to help bring these discontinued treats back.
That effort says a lot about the place. Nostalgia isn’t just a theme at this Ohio shop.
It’s a mission.
Candies from past decades sit right beside today’s trendiest flavors. Grandparents can point out the treats from their childhood while kids grab the newest sour gummies.
Hunting for something rare? The store is known for hard-to-find candy, and staff can help track down items that are still being made.
Holiday gift baskets get way more personal with retro picks. A box of candies someone hasn’t seen in decades can mean more than any fancy present.
Bulk bins add even more variety to the search. Shoppers use clean, individually wrapped scoops, then toss them into a used bucket afterward.
Take your time in these sections. Old favorites tend to pop up when you least expect them, usually right after you’ve decided they couldn’t possibly be here.
Bring a phone to snap wrappers for family group chats. Someone will absolutely reply with a memory.
Chocolate Fans Get Their Own Passport Stamps
Lindt, Godiva, Ritter Sport, and Milka share space with American favorites like Hershey and Dove. That lineup turns a Cleveland candy run into a small chocolate world tour.
Imported bars make excellent holiday gifts. They feel a little fancy without requiring a trip overseas or a complicated online order.
Jelly Belly lovers get plenty of attention, too. About 80 varieties of Jelly Belly beans line up for mix-and-match fun.
Pop Rocks come in numerous flavors as well. That crackle on the tongue still delights kids, and honestly, plenty of adults.
The Pez collection deserves a slow walk. A substantial lineup of dispensers makes this aisle feel part shop and part tiny museum.
Stocking stuffers practically choose themselves in these sections. A Pez dispenser, a bag of jelly beans, and one imported bar make a cheerful little bundle.
Baking fans should look for candy-making supplies, too. Melting chocolate and baker’s goodies can turn a holiday cookie session into something special.
The best strategy is simple. Pick one treat for yourself before shopping for everyone else, because willpower runs low around this much chocolate.
Sodas Taste Like Ranch Dressing Here, And That’s On Purpose
Dirt. Buffalo wing.
Ranch dressing. Those are real novelty soda flavors that have appeared at Sweetie’s, alongside perfectly normal choices.
The Soda Shoppe currently advertises more than 100 varieties of bottled sodas. Some are classic, some are nostalgic, and others exist mainly to win dares.
A weird soda makes a hilarious holiday gift. If you spot Buffalo wing pop, wrap a bottle for the cousin who claims nothing surprises them anymore.
Of course, the traditional flavors are worth exploring as well. Glass bottles and regional brands give the selection a fun, old-fashioned look.
Families can turn the cooler into a game. Each person picks the strangest flavor they can find, then everyone takes a brave sip together.
Bring a cooler bag if you plan to stock up. A mixed six-pack of odd sodas makes a great party conversation starter.
The soda selection shows how this place thinks. Nothing here feels too silly to sell if it makes someone laugh or remember something sweet.
Just maybe keep a backup vanilla cream soda handy. Ranch dressing soda is an adventure, and not every adventure ends with a second sip.
Save Room For A Scoop, Or Several
Thirty-six flavors of homemade ice cream wait inside Sweetie’s Soda Shoppe. After hours of aisle-wandering, that counter feels like a well-earned reward.
Choices go well beyond a simple cone. Sundaes, malts, milkshakes, parfaits, and Syclones fill out the lineup.
A Syclone is the shoppe’s own blended treat. The name alone makes it sound like a dessert with big plans.
The soda shop also works as a nice break spot. Tired legs and full carts both appreciate a few minutes of sitting down.
Pairing ice cream with a quirky soda is a fun move. A malt plus a bottle of something wild makes the visit feel complete.
Winter shoppers shouldn’t skip dessert just because it’s chilly outside. Ice cream tastes just as good in December, especially indoors surrounded by candy.
Families can split a sundae to keep things reasonable. That leaves more room in the budget for the shopping cart waiting nearby.
Here’s a tip for planning the visit. Shop first, then grab ice cream, so nobody juggles a melting cone while reaching for a top-shelf box of gummies.
A Glowing Castle Rules This Candy-Themed Mini Golf
Thirty-six holes of candy-themed mini golf sit right on the five-acre campus. Sweetie’s Golfland Park takes the sugar rush outdoors.
A 30-foot illuminated castle anchors the course. It’s hard to miss and even harder not to photograph.
Water features add a calm touch to all the color. A 5,000-gallon koi pond and a cascading waterfall bring some scenery between putts.
The course is seasonal and closed for 2026 on October 12. Holiday shoppers visiting in November or December will need to save their mini golf plans for the warmer months.
Warmer months make a full-day plan easy. Shop the aisles, grab ice cream, then burn off some energy on the greens.
Thirty-six holes give groups options. Short attention spans can play a quicker round, while competitive families can go for the full challenge.
Keep score however you like. Some families might bet candy on the final hole, which feels very fitting for this setting.
Even outside golf season, the setup shows how big this campus really is. b.a. Sweetie Candy Company built more than a store here.
It created a destination where candy spills into the landscape itself.
Keep An Eye Out For A 1932 Ford And A Tiny Amusement Park
A beautifully restored 1932 Ford truck sits inside the store. Back in its working days, it delivered candy.
That truck makes a great photo stop. It also connects today’s huge operation to its much humbler roots.
Nearby decor keeps the playful mood going. Oversized lollipops and M&M character statues greet shoppers with goofy charm.
Local history fans will spot another treat. A miniature replica of the former Euclid Beach amusement park is on display.
Euclid Beach was a beloved Cleveland-area park, and the replica stirs plenty of memories. Older relatives may have stories ready the moment they see it.
These displays give the store personality beyond the shelves. They make the building feel like part museum, part candy dream.
Plan a few minutes just to look around. Kids enjoy the statues, while adults tend to linger near the truck and the tiny park.
The whole Willy Wonka-inspired atmosphere comes together in these details. Shopping is the main event, but the scenery keeps things fun between aisles.
Bring a camera for holiday cards. A family photo beside a candy truck beats another picture by the fireplace.
A Basement Business Grew Into A 75-Year Sweet Story
Back in 1950, brothers-in-law Frank Stansny and Al Tokar started Bag A Sweet Candy Company in a basement. Their focus was bagging bulk candy for wholesale customers.
Tom and Judi Scheiman bought the business in 1982. In the early 1990s, they rebranded it as b.a.
Sweetie Candy Company.
Online sales arrived in 1999. That move helped the company reach candy fans far beyond Cleveland.
The current 40,000-square-foot facility opened in 2015. It brought the retail and wholesale sides together in one massive building.
Tom Scheiman is a member of the Candy Hall of Fame. Yes, that’s a real honor, and it fits this story nicely.
Wholesale remains a big part of the business today. The company serves more than 800 partners across the country.
In 2026, the company transitioned to employee ownership through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan. The move followed its 75th anniversary in 2025 and gave eligible workers a stake in the business.
Knowing the history makes shopping feel different. Every bag of candy connects to a small basement operation that grew into one of Ohio’s sweetest landmarks.
Plan Your Holiday Candy Run With These Handy Details
Holiday seasons bring big crowds of shoppers to this candy wonderland. Roughly 500,000 retail visitors stop by each year, with Easter, Halloween, and Christmas among the busiest times.
The store sits at 6770 Brookpark Rd, Cleveland, OH 44129. Plenty of parking makes it easier to haul out a loaded cart.
Hours run from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Sunday hours are shorter, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Early visits give you more breathing room in the aisles. They also leave extra time for ice cream before closing.
Gift shoppers will find more than candy here. Nostalgic and new board games, card games, and candy-themed toys round out the selection.
A popcorn kitchen offers gourmet popcorn, too. That’s handy for anyone on your list who prefers salty over sweet.
Set a budget before you grab a cart. With this many temptations, the total can climb faster than those 22-foot shelves.
b.a. Sweetie Candy Company makes a cheerful holiday outing for nearly any age.
Few places in Ohio can turn a shopping errand into a full-blown family adventure quite like this one.